Why FSU?

The FSU College of Education has a strong academic reputation. The Special Education faculty members in the School of Teacher Education are leaders in their fields and the combined BS/Master's pathway to teacher certification shows the College values teacher preparation, the area I am most interested in. In addition, when I had the opportunity to meet with faculty members during my decision process, they were encouraging and approachable.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

I was a high school special education teacher before beginning graduate school. During my nine years in the classroom, I had the opportunity to support many pre-service and new special education teachers. I loved brainstorming solutions and providing feedback to new teachers. I decided to pursue a PhD so I could focus on developing and supporting new teachers in this field.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research is focused on providing meaningful instructional feedback to special education teachers. Without feedback, no one wants to do a job! And that includes teachers. Current teacher evaluation systems are misaligned to the roles special education teachers fill in their schools. My goal is to develop an assessment tool that can be used to provide meaningful feedback to special education teachers, which will help them be more effective and confident in their job.

Career aspirations

My goal is to be a faculty member in a teacher preparation program. I want to apply research in teacher preparation and student learning to courses designed to guide the next generation of teachers.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Earning a PhD at a research-intensive institution like Florida State University is more than a full-time job! To be successful you need a strong commitment to your field, a strong work ethic for courses, and a strong passion for your research area. About 2 percent of people in the USA hold a PhD, which means about 98 percent of people in the USA will not understand what you have committed to. Graduate school is a career, an education, a lifestyle, a service opportunity, and more! To be successful you need supportive peers, invested advisors, and a personal support network.

Accomplishments during your graduate career

The accomplishment I am most excited to share is my role in the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. I am currently the student representative to the board and act as a liaison between the student members and the board of directors. In this role I have been able to connect with other PhD students who are passionate about special education teacher preparation, work with leaders in the field, and provide service to this organization. I hope this group will be my professional home for many years, and I am thankful I had the support and opportunity to be involved as a student.

I am a OSEP RAISE Scholar. I also received a couple of awards and scholarships from the College of Education: Margaret K. & Fred S. Lewis Endowed Scholarship in Special Education scholarship, Nancy Duran Thomas Scholarship in Early Childhood Special Education, and Adelaide D. Wilson Graduate Fellowship Endowment Fund.